Machine for maintaining constant moisture content in a granular material



Oct. 8, 1935. P. K. FISII-IER ET AL 2,016,920

MACHINE FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT MOISTURE CONTENT IN A GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Sept. 22, 1952' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. 8901 A. f'N/vee Jisznv Max/r454 BY ATTORNEY.

Get. 8, 1935. P. K. FISHER ET AL 2,016,920

MACHINE FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT MOISTURE CONTENT IN A GRANUIJAR MATERIAL Filed Sept 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY.

Oct, 8 1935. P. K; FISHER El AL 2,016,920 momma FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT MOISTURE CONTENT IN A GRANULAR MATERIAL Fild Sept. 22, 1952 as Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ 6 P901 A fishes/e BY Jaw-P A MC/lf/Vfi/F ATTORNE Get. 8, 1935. FISHER r 2,016,920

MACHINE FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT MOISTURE CONTENT IN A GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Sept. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 8, 1935. P. K. FISHER ET AL I 2,016,920

MACHINE FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT MOISTURE CONTENT IN A GRANULAR MATERIAL.

Filed Sept. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A l 4j-- 45 *"JJ' Z 43 INVENTORJ. III a a K- 4,2 BY JZB'iP/lfl flaw/m I ATTORNEY.

to a predetermined point.

Patented Oct. 1935 UNITED sTATEs A MAINTAINING MOISTURE CONTENT IN A .MACHINE FOR MATERIAL I 2,016,920 PATENT OFFICE CONSTANT GRANULAB Paul K. Fisher and Joseph H. Wichtner, Detroit, Mich, assignors to The Commercial Milling Company, a corporation of Michigan Application September '22, 1932, Serial No. 634,420

18 Claims.

This inventionrelates to machines for auto-.

to bring the moisture content thereof. up to that permitted by law which is 15% by weight. The wheat, as a rule, base moisture content below that permitted by law so that in order to raise the moisture content to 15% it is necessary to add water to the wheat.'

It has heretofore been the practice to make sample tests of the wheat and then add sufficient water to raise the moisture content thereof These tests, as a rule, require considerable length of time and inasmuch as the machines are running, during. this time, to deliver wheat to the storage bins, all of the wheat delivered during the time of the. takingof the tests might not have the correct moisture content and would consequently cause a considerable loss to the mill.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a device which will automatically test the wheat for moisture content, as it'is being fed through the conveyors to the storage bins and which will automatically add suihcient water to the wheat to maintain the moisture content of the same to that permitted bylaw.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this character for maintaining the correct moisture content of a flowing body of granular material and which is provided with means for recording the percentage at all 5 times of moisture in the granular material.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this character having a water conduit opening to the materialas it flowsto the conveyor and a valve in the water conduit which is automatically controlled to deliver the correct amount of water to the wheat to maintain the correct amount of moisture content therein.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this character having These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich- Fig. l is an elevational view of adelivering device having my improved tester and control mechanism connected therewith.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially" on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the tester having the front cover removed.

Fig. 4' is a section taken on line44 of Fig. 3. 5 Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Fig. 7 is-an elevational view of the water valve control device, the cover being removed.

, Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailsectional view taken on line 3-? of Fig. '7.

Referring to. the drawings, the delivery pipe i has its lower end connected to the conduit 2 adjacent one end thereof and a similar conduit 15 t is positioned below the conduit 2 and is connected to the storage bins 4 by means of the spaced vertically extending conduits 5. The vertically extending conduit 6 delivers wheat orother granular material from one end of the conduit 2 to the adjacent end of the conduit 3. A screw conveyor ilis positioned in the conduit 2 to move thewheat from the delivery pipe l to the conduit 6, and a screw conveyor 8 is positioned in the conduit 3 to move the wheat'along 25 the conduit and deliver the same into the bins 4. Suitable driving mechanism S'is positioned ad-. jacent one end of the conduits 2 and 3 for rotating the conveyors l and 8. A tester i0 preferably rests on the top of the bins 8 and is positioned adjacent the ends of the conduits 2 and 3, to which. the conduit Bis attached. The tester comprises the box like structure ll having the removable covers l2 and i3 closing one side thereof, the same being removable to permit access to the interior of the'tester.. The walls of the box are preferably formed of some insulating material such as hard rubber or the like, and a partition I211. also of some insulating material extends transversely of the box.

A hollow cylindrical member I8 is supported in one end wall of the box like structure H and in the partition lza, and a, cylindrical member I! is positioned below the member l4 and is simllarly supported. A conduit l6 opens into the 45 member ll adjacent one end-thereof and the opposite end of the conduit opens into the conduit 2 adjacent the bottom thereof. A vertically extending conduit i1 connects the tubular member H to the tubular member l5 and the same is 50 preferably of some transparent material such as glass, whereby the flow of material may be observed through the glass sight l8 in the cover It.

A conveyor I!) of any suitable construction is 55 positioned in the tubular member H and is supported in suitable hearings in one end wall and in the partition l2a of the box like structure ll.

. A shaft 20 is positioned in the tubular member l5 and is likewise carried in suitable bearings in' 50 the end wall and in the partition l2. A spiral conveyor 2| is secured to the shaft 22 adjacent the partition Ho and a blade conveyor 22 is also secured to the shaft 22 adjacent the opposite end of the tubular member IS. A chute 22 opens into the tubular member I! adjacentthe conveyor 22 and the opposite end of the same is connected to the lower end of the elevator 24, whereby the material from the tubular member I! will be redelivered into the conduit 2.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 5 that the tubular member I! is divided into two sections by the insulating member 25 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. An electric motor 28 is mounted on the standard 21, the same being suitably secured to the base of the box like structure II, and rotates the conveyors "and 2|- and 22 through the sprocket chain 22, the speed reducer 28 and the sprocket chain 22.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the wires 2| and 22 are suitably secured in the wall of the tubular member I, one on each side oi? the-insulating divider 25. A wire 22 connects to the electric measuring instrument 23, such as an ammeter, the same being preferably mounted in the panel l2 and a wire 24 leads from the ammeter to the electromagnet 2i and a wire 26 leads from the opposite end of the electromagnet 22 to a source of current supp not shown. 1

The wire 2| connects to one terminal of the switch 21, the same being likewise preferably mounted in the panel i2, and. a wire 22 leads from the opposite terminal of the switch to the source of current supply. The electromagnet 25 is preferably positioned in the box like member 42 which may be positioned in any part of the building in which the device is installed, but is here shown as being positioned adjacent the delivery pipe i. The upper end of the core4l of the electromagnet'25 has one end of the bar -42 pivotally connected thereto, the intermediate portion of the ally connected to the bar 42. A weight 49 is suspended from the bar 42 and may be adjustably positioned away or toward pivot point 42 by moving the same to any one of the spaced apertures B in the bar 42. A gear BI is also pivotallyv mounted upon the disc 44 and meshes with the gear 46, whereby rotation of'the gear 48 will impart rotation to the gear 5|.

, The disc 44 is provided w'ith'the threaded tubular extension 52, on which is threaded the cup shaped member 52, the same being provided with the threaded hollow boss 44, to which one end of the water supply pipe I! is suitably connected, the opposite .end of the supply pipe being connected to a source of water supply (not shown) The disc 44 is formed with the hollow threaded boss 42, to which one end of the pipe 51 is connected, the opposite end of the pipe preferably opening into the delivery pipe I. A eway i8 is formed in the disc 44 and oneend connects to the hollow boss 22, while the opposite end opens into the-chamber 20 formed by the disc 44 and the cup shaped member 52. The valve 2| is secured to the pivot 22 of the gear ll and is adapted to oscillate upon movement of the gear 5| to open and close the passageway 42 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.- A time recording dial 62 of any well known construction is also mounted upon the rear wall of the box like structure 40 and the free end of the arm 24 is provided with the usual marking device 65. The 5 bar 66 is connected to the pivot of the arm 24 and to the bar 42 so that movement of the bar 42 will move the arm 64 and give a permanent record of movement of the bar 42. It will be noted that the conduit I6 is considerably smaller than the conduit 6 so that only a small portion of the granular material passing through the conduit 2 will be delivered to the tester l2.

It will be further noted that due to the construction of the conveyors 2| and 22 that auniform body of wheat will be maintained in the tubular member l5 between the conveyors 2| and 22, but which is continuously changing as the wheat moves through the tester.

It will be further noted that since the tubular member I5 is insulated from the other parts of the tester and since the same is divided into two sections by the insulating material 25, that current flowing from the source of current supply through the-wire 2i, must pass through the body 25 of wheat or granular material that is positioned between the conveyors 2| and 22 in order to pass to the wire 22. It will thus be seen that the' amount of current flowing between the wires 2| 2 and 22 will be dependent upon the amount of moisture in the wheat and will consequently govern the amount of current flowing through the electromagnet 25 and the amount of current flowing through the electromagnet 25 will govern the position of the core 4|, the same being drawn farther into the electromagnet against the action of the spring and the weight 49 as the current flow increases.

It will .be seen that the granular; material flowing through the delivery pipe I will have a chance to ,be thoroughly mixed as it is moved by the conveyor "I to the conduit 2 to the tester Hi. It will thus be noted that by the time the material reaches the tester III that the moisture content of granular material will be uniform so that there a will be practically no change in current flow between the terminals of the wires 2| and 22 except when the moisture content of the granular material flowing through the delivery pipe I or the volume of granular material is changed. 50

The operation of the device is as follows: Wheat or other granular material is fed through the delivery pipe I into the conduit 2 and is moved by the conveyor 1 toward the conduit 8, where it is delivered into the conduit 2 and the conveyor 2 will move the material along and distribute the same through the conduits 2 into the bins 4. A certain percentage of the granular material will fall through the conduit l8 into the tubular member l4 of the tester I0 and the conveyor I! will do move the material along the tubular member to the conduit II, where it will fall into the tubular 'member "and the conveyor 2| will move the same along toward the conveyor 22, that in turn discharging the same through the chute 22 to fthe tubular member I! between the conveyors 2| and 22 but this body of wheat is continuously changing. as will be readily understood.

It will thus be seen that the moister the wheat the less resistance to the flow of current between the terminals of the wires 2| and 22 and the more 15 current flow-through the electromagnet 35, thereby drawing the core 4i farther down into the electromagnet against the action of the spring 45 and moving the valve 6| to reduce the'size of the opening in the passageway 58, thus partly shut ting off flow of water through the pipe 51 to the moving the valve toward its closed position. The

opposite action will take place proviidng the moisture content of the wheat is reduced as the resistance to the flow of current will be greater,

cutting down the amount of current through the solenoid and allowing. the springs 45 to move the valve 6| wider open, allowing more Water to flow through the pipe 51 onto the wheat. This same result will occur when a greater volume of wheat is being delivered through the pipe I as the same will not have sufficient moisture and the valve will be, moved wider open until the wheat has reached a predetermined moisture content.

By adjusting the weight 49 along the bard! or by changing the tension on the springs 65', the device may be set to maintain the moisture content-at different percentages as desired.

It will thus be seen that the device is entirely automatic in operation to maintain a continuous, stream of granular material at a predetermined.

moisture content. It will be further noted that the recording dial 63 will keep an accurate record of the percentage of water added to the material as the marker 65 is controlled in its movement by movement of the bar 42 and will indicate when the valve 6] is moved to open or close.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that we have provided a device for maintaining the moisture content of a flowing body of granular material at a predetermined amount; further that the device is entirely automatic in operation, is simple in construction so 'as to not easily get out of order and is extremely sensitive and accurate so as to maintain the moisture content of granular material within extremely close limits.

Having-thus fully described our invention, its utility and mode of operation, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United conduit, means for causing a portion of the H granular material from the first named conduit to traverse the second named conduit, means for adding moisture to the granular material prior tofia portion thereof entering the second conduit, means for passing an electric current through the granular material in the second named conduit and means responsive to changes terial upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical conductivity.

2. A deviceof the character described comprising a hollow conduit, means for moving granular material therethrough, means for maintaining a constant volume of granular material in a portion of the conduit, said means-comprising a conveyor for forcing material into the conduit 5 and a discharge conveyor spaced therefrom whereby'the material is compacted between the said conveyors, means for passing an electric current through the constant volume of granular material, means for adding moisture to the gran- 10' ular material prior-to its passagethrough the conduit and means responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular material for regulating the amount of moisture added thereto, said means operating to increase the 15 amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical conductivity. 20

3. A device of the character described comprising means for passing electric current through a portion of a flowing body of granular material,

means for discharging water into the flowing body prior to its subjection to the electric current 25 and electro-magnetic means, connected to the water discharging means, responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular material for regulating the amount of water discharged thereinto, said means operating to inso crease the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical conductivity. 35

4. A device of the character described comprising a hollow conduit, means for moving granular material therethrough, means for passing an electric current through the granular material, means for adding moisture to the granular material 4.0 prior to its movement through the conduit and electro-magnetic means, connected to the moisture adding means, responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular material for, regulating the amount of moisture added 45 thereto, said means operating to increase the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical con- 50 ductivity.

5. A device of the character described comprising a hollow conduit, means for moving granular material therethrough, means for adding moisture to the granular material prior to its move- 55 ment through the conduit, means for maintaining a constant volume'of granular material in one portion of the conduit, means for passing an electric current through the constant volume of granular material and electro-magnetic means, connected to the moisture adding means, responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of thegranular material for regulating the amount of moisture added thereto, said means operating to increase the amount of moisturebeing added to thematerial upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical conductivity.

6. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally disposed hollow conduit,means for moving granular .material therethrough, a;

second conduit having a vertically extending portion connected to the horizontal conduit, adjacent the bottom thereof, whereby a portion of the 76 granular material is caused to flow by gravity through the vertical portionof the second named conduit, means for adding moisture to thegranular material in the hollow conduit to the rear of the connection of the second conduit therewith, means for ,passing an electric current through-the granular material in the second named conduit and means responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of'the granular material for regulating the amount of moisture added thereto, said means operating to increase the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical conductivity.

'7. A device of the character described comprising-a horizontally disposed hollow conduit,

means for moving granular material therethrough, a second conduit having a vertically extending portion opening into the first named conduit, adjacent the bottom thereof, whereby a portion of the granular material will flow, by gravity through the vertically extending portion of the second conduit, means for adding moisture'to the granular material in the hollow conduit to the rear of the connection of the second conduit therewith, means for maintaining a constant volume of granular material in a portion of the second conduit, means for passing anelectric current through the constant volume of granular material and meansresponsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular'material for regulating the amount'of moisture added thereto, said means operating to increase the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the'electrical conductivity.

8. A device of the character described compris ing a hollow conduit, means for moving granular material therethrough, a second conduit, 'connected to the first named conduit, being of smaller cross' sectional area than the first named conduit, means for causing a portion of the granular material from the first named conduit to traverse the second named conduit, means for adding moisture to the granular material in the first named con- ,duit, means for passing an electric current through the granular material in the second named conduit and electro-magnetic means, connected to the moisture adding means, responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular material for regulating the amount of moisture added thereto, said means operating to increase the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical conductivity.

9. A device of the character described comprising a' horizontally disposed hollow conduit,

,means for moving granular material therethrough the constant volume of granular material and electro-magnetic means, connected to the moisture adding means, responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular material for regulating the amount of moisture added thereto, said means operating to increase- 5 the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical the adjacent ends of the two sections for insulating the same from each other, means for moving granular material throughthc two sections,

means for adding moisture to the granular material prior to its movement into the area of constant volume, an-electric circuit, one wire of the circuit being connected to one of the sections and the other wire of the circuit being connected'to the other section whereby the amount of current 25 flowing through the circuit is dependent upon the electrical conductivity of the granular material between the two sections of the conduit and means responsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular material for regulating the 3 amount of moisture added thereto, said means operating to increase the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the .electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon in- 35 crease in the electrical conductivity.

11. A device of the character described comprising a hollow conduit, including two sections ofequal cross sectional area in spaced relation, means for moving granular material through the {10 two sections, means for maintaining a constant volume of granular material between the sections, means for adding moisture to the granular material prior to its movement into the area of constant volume, means for passing an electric cur- 4 rent through the constant volume of granular material and meansresponsive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the granular material for regulating the amount of moisture added I thereto, said means operating to increase the 5 amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity thereof and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in the electrical conductivity.v 55

12. A device of the character described, comprising a conduit formed of two axially aligned parts, an insulating ring separating the parts,

-means for supplying granular material to the inlet end of the conduit, a discharge means for mat terial at the opposite end, said supply and dis- ,charge means being spaced apart providing an area in which the material is compacted-and of greatest density at approximately the plane of the insulating ring, an electric circuit having a terminal in each part of the conduit adjacent the insulating ring wherein a comparatively short electrical path through the material is provided,

means for adding moisture to the material prior to its passing into the area between the terminals of the conduit, and electrically operated means in the circuit controlled by variation in the electrical conductivity of the material passing the insulating ring arranged to operate the moisture adding means to supply a variable amount 0175 moisture to the material and to thereby maintain the moisture content substantially constant.

13. A device of the character described,'comprising in combination with a conduit through which material flows, of means for adding moisture to the material, a second conduit to which the part of the material-from the first conduit is discharged, said second conduit being formed of two parts in insulated relation one to the other and to the other parts of the apparatus, a conveyor element for passing material received from the first conduit longitudinally of the second conduit, means whereby the material in said second conduit is compacted intermediate its length, an insulating ring between the two parts i of the conduit, an electric circuit having a terminal in each part ofthe conduit completed by the compacted material therebetween, and means in the said circuit controlled by variation in the electrical conductivity of the material in the conduit between the terminals for operating the moisture adding means to supply a variable amount of moisture to the material of the first conduit in inverse ratio relation to the electrical conductivity of the material between the said terminals to thereby maintain the moisture content of the material discharging through the first named conduit practically constant.

14. A device of the character described, comprising the combination with a conduit through which material is discharged, of means for adding moisture to the material, a main discharge conduit for said first named conduit and a secondary discharge conduit therefor through which a small amount of material may pass, means associated with the said secondary conduit for receiving the material and'including a twopart conduit in insulated relation one to the other and to the other parts of the apparatus, means for causing material to pass through the said two-part conduit in a compacted condition, an electric circuit having two terminals connected respectively with each of the conduits adjacent the insulated point, and means in the said-circuit responsive to variation in electrical conductivity of the material of the said two-part conduit between the terminals to actuate the moisture adding means to supply a variable amount of moisture to the material of the flrst named conduit inversely as the electrical conductivity oi the material between the terminals varies.

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a conduit through which material is' discharged, of a conduit opening thereto into which the material from the main conduit passes by gravity, a conduit to which the said gravity discharged material passes, said conduit being formed of two axially aligned parts, an insulating ring therebetween, an electric circult having a terminal connected respectively with each of the parts of the conduit adjacent the insulating ring, means for adding moisture tothe material in the first named conduit, and electromagnetically controlled means for varying the amount of moisture added ininverse ratio to the electrical conductivity of the material in the twopart conduit between the-said terminals.

16. In apparatus or the character described, the combination with a conduit through which a body of material is. passed, or means including a conduit and a valve therein for supplying water to the material, means for controlling the extent of opening of the valve to thereby vary the quantity' oi water-supplied to the material, comprising a second conduit, means by which a-portion conduit being formed of two axially aligned parts, an insulating ring therebetween having a diameter of opening practically the same as the twopart conduit, means at one end of the conduit for causing material discharging thereto to be moved axially oi the two-part conduit, means at the opposite end of the conduit for discharging the material therefrom, an electric circuit including an electro-magnet and a core therefor, and means connected with the core whereby 5 movement of the same by the magnet turns the valve, a spring for moving the core in the opposite direction, the parts being so arranged that an increasing electrical flow of current in the circuit through increased electrical conductivity of the material passing between the terminals in the said two-part conduit tends to move the said core to close the valve and a decrease in the electrical conductivity and consequent movement-oi the. core in an opposite direction by the spring increases the opening of the valve thereby main taining the moisture content of the material flowing in the main conduit substantially constant.

17. In apparatus of the character described, a

- conduit through which material, such as wheat,

may flow, means by which a part of the said material may be discharged from the conduit, a two-part conduit to which the said part of the material is discharged, the two parts being in insulated relation with the remainder of the apparatus, an insulating ring separating the adjacent ends of the two parts, an electric circuit,

. the terminals of which are respectively attached to the adjacent ends of the said two parts, and a 40 moisture supplying means for the material flowing in the main conduit controlled by variation in the electrical conductivity of the material passing the terminals of the conduit to increase the flow of moisture to the material on a. decrease in electrical conductivity oi the material between the terminals of the circuit and to decrease the flow of moisture as the electrical passing electric current through the granular material in the said portion-oi the conduit containing the constant volume, means for adding moisture to the granular material prior to passing to the portion of the conduit containing the 00 constant volume, and means responsive to changes in electrical conductivity of the granular material at the point or constant volume for regulating the amount 01 moisture added to the material, said means operating to. increase the amount of moisture being added to the material upon a decrease in the electrical conductivity and to decrease the amount of moisture being added upon increase in electrical conductivity.

PAUL K. FISHER. JOSEPH H. WICHTNER. 

